Chарtеr 201: Тhе Мidnight Вride 7
This sсеnе tооk Pan Chi bу surрrise, and еven Shen Du bеsidе him suddеnlу furrоwеd his brows. This wоman really had no sеnsе—investigаting a саsе wаs onе thing, but whу did shе аlwаys hаve to touсh his bоdy?
It fеlt as if she werе interestеd in him. Couldn’t shе аt lеаst аvоid susрicion?
Zhu Yаn рinchеd thе рowdеr in her hаnd аnd brought it to hеr nоse fоr a sniff. “If I’m not mistakеn, this should be the lеgеndаry dаtura incensе, right?”
Хu Jizе’s faсе instаntlу turnеd рalе. Stаring at thе remnаnts of the knоckоut inсеnse in Zhu Yаn’s hаnd, hе stаmmered, unablе to utter a comрlete sentеnce.
Аfter а mоment оf quick thinking, he still tried to argue, “No, that’s not mine. I don’t know why it was on me. Please investigate thoroughly, Your Honor. I really didn’t kill anyone. I had nothing to do with kidnapping Miss Du.”
“Nothing to do? You were here today to attend the wedding, and you were even a groomsman. If you had no connection to those thieves, how could remnants of knockout incense be found on you?”
Zhu Yan pressed relentlessly, while Xu Jize’s face was already filled with panic, his eyes blinking rapidly again.
After a long silence from Xu Jize, Zhu Yan sneered coldly. “Can’t come up with an excuse, can you? Even if you’re not the murderer, you were definitely involved in kidnapping Miss Du. Perhaps you were even the mastermind!”
“No, it’s not like that. It wasn’t me.” Xu Jize shook his head repeatedly, the panic in his eyes unable to conceal his guilt. Even beads of cold sweat had formed on his forehead.
“Are you sure it wasn’t you?” Pan Chi cooperated seamlessly, stepping forward to present another clue. He held a piece of fabric residue that perfectly matched the clothes on Xu Jize’s body. “This fabric scrap was found on the victim’s body and matches yours perfectly. Still saying it has nothing to do with you?”
“It wasn’t me. That fabric isn’t mine.” Xu Jize argued, “There are so many clothes at the adult shop. How can you randomly pick a piece of fabric and claim it’s from me?”
“Still stubborn, aren’t you?” Pan Chi took another piece of clothing from the constable behind him and threw it in front of Xu Jize. “This piece of clothing was found on the road. Is it yours?”
Xu Jize stared at the outer garment on the ground, his face unusually pale. This was exactly the outer garment he had discarded while fleeing.
“This…” Xu Jize was terrified and uneasy, unable to think of a way to refute. Meanwhile, Zhu Yan beside him continued, “At this point, do you still want to claim this garment isn’t yours?”
As she spoke, Zhu Yan crouched down and pulled a silver thread from the collar of the outer garment on the ground. This silver thread was identical to the ones still clinging to Xu Jize’s clothes.
A meaningful smile curled at the corner of Zhu Yan’s lips, her face filled with anger. “While fleeing, you hastily discarded your outer garment but didn’t realize that the silver threads from the collar remained on your clothes. With so much ironclad evidence before you, what else do you have to say?
“You are the mastermind behind this kidnapping case, and you also killed your accomplice. Isn’t that right?” Pan Chi’s tone turned exceptionally sharp, his gaze fixed fiercely on Xu Jize.
Xu Jize had no words to defend himself. Guilt-ridden, he didn’t even know where to look.Seeing the emotions of the Du and Li families rising, Xu Jize broke down in tears, kneeling on the ground and begging for mercy. "No, it's not like that. I didn't kill anyone, I really didn't kill anyone. I was just momentarily confused, tempted by the bride's beauty. I wanted to kidnap her and make her mine, planning to sell her off after the deed was done. But I truly didn't kill anyone, my lords. You must believe me—even if you gave me a hundred guts, I wouldn't dare to kill anyone!"
Xu Jize's explanation instantly disgusted everyone present. What a wolf in sheep's clothing, with such wicked intentions!
Zhu Yan was furious. She stepped forward and began lecturing him. "How could you be so vicious? Every young woman is raised with care by her parents—the effort of nurturing them is immense. How can someone like you trample on others so casually? A man with such depraved intentions, who harms young women, deserves to be struck by lightning and never be reincarnated—that wouldn't even be too harsh!"
Growing more agitated as she spoke, Zhu Yan couldn't hold back and raised her hand to strike Xu Jize.
Shen Du quickly stepped forward, grabbing Zhu Yan's hand. At that moment, he also noticed Mo Qianzhi's gaze, which seemed somewhat different from the others.
"What? Are you trying to protect scum like him?" Zhu Yan was surprised by Shen Du's intervention, looking at him with annoyance.
"Of course not," Shen Du hurriedly explained. "Someone like him deserves to die a thousand times over. But you've been busy investigating the case until now and must be tired. Besides, hitting someone hurts your hand. Let me handle this."
After speaking, he glanced at Jing Lin, who understood and turned to take a staff from one of the constables, stepping forward to punish Xu Jize.
Mo Qianzhi suddenly spoke up. "Wait."
Hearing Mo Qianzhi's objection, Zhu Yan turned to look at him. "At this point, aren't you going to convict him?"
"Please calm down, Madam Shen," Mo Qianzhi quickly explained. "Regarding the conviction, I have my own arrangements. Xu Jize kidnapped the bride on her wedding night, and a life was lost. This case is extremely severe. Without harsh interrogation, I fear he won't confess everything."
After speaking, Mo Qianzhi didn't forget to strike the magistrate's block on the table with force.
Hearing Mo Qianzhi's words, Zhu Yan's heart eased slightly.
Shen Du pulled Zhu Yan aside, whispering to her, "No matter what, this is a matter for the yamen. Let him handle it."
Zhu Yan realized her own impulsiveness and didn't know what to say. She simply nodded slightly and turned her attention back to the proceedings in the hall.
Some torture instruments were brought into the hall, and Mo Qianzhi selected the finger-press torture.
"Bring the finger-press," Mo Qianzhi ordered, throwing down a command token.
Once the token hit the ground, there was no turning back. The constables beside him obeyed.
Xu Jize shook his head in terror, but his hands were already firmly seized by the constables. The finger-press was applied, and the torture began.
"Ah—"
A scream like that of a slaughtered pig echoed through the courtroom. Xu Jize's face turned deathly pale, and cold sweat poured down like rain.
"Spare me, my lord. I'll confess."
Xu Jize begged for mercy, weeping bitterly. He had never endured such torture in his life and couldn't bear it for another moment.
Mo Qianzhi raised his hand to stop the punishment. "Then quickly confess the details of this case to me!"
Xu Jize collapsed to his knees on the ground, his face devoid of color, his hands trembling uncontrollably.What Zhu Yan hadn't expected was that this man would prove so weak-willed, ready to confess after just a little torture—truly beyond her anticipation.
"Speak quickly!"
Seeing that Xu Jize remained silent for a long time, Mo Qianzhi once again struck the gavel in his hand.
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